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The ‘digital tick’ certification scheme was plunged into disarray this week as Freeview claimed that manufacturers Sony and Beko had wrongly used the digital tick logo on a number of Freeview Personal Video Recorders.

Earlier this month, the programme guide service provided by InView Ltd was suddenly withdrawn without notice, leaving thousands of consumers without programme information and severely affecting the usability of their boxes. Over 1300 people have signed a petition to reinstate the service.

In response Freeview stated that all models bearing the digital tick logo would be unaffected by the loss of the InView service, as the certification requires that boxes use the standard Freeview programme guide.

It has since emerged that several affected models did have the digital tick logo on their packaging and were even listed in Digital UK’s online database has having been certified [PDF].

Digital UK responded by saying that the models were not in the registered equipment database and therefore should not be carrying the digital tick logo. Following this the 3 models were quietly removed from the database.

Digital UK later acknowledged the use of the digital tick on these models:

Digital UK and BIS (Dept of Business Innovation & Skills) are in discussion with Beko Plc.

It appears Beko Plc did applied (sic) the digital tick Certified Mark incorrectly. These products have since been removed from our website.

For more information I suggest that you get in touch with Beko Plc Customer Services – 0845 600 4911

Yesterday Freeview issued an update to their statement:

This affects only a small number of old legacy models, none of which were eligible to use the digital tick logo, but it has been brought to our attention that some manufacturers Digifusion (Beko) and Sony incorrectly featured the digital tick. Viewers who wish to complain should contact their equipment manufacturer.

Referring to these models as “old legacy models” will be of no comfort to the thousands of consumers who have been let down. Though many of these units came to market 4-5 years ago, some were still being sold by major high street retailers up until last week.

To date, there has been no response from Sony or Beko regarding the allegations from Freeview and Digital UK. There has been no indication whether manufacturers face any repercutions if it is proven that the digital tick logo was used without certification.

Contrary to Freeview’s statement, it appears that the requirements for acheiving certification were changed a few years ago. It’s possible that at the time of manufacture, the affected models did comply with the older specification and only after the requirements were changed to require use of the standard Freeview EPG were these models non-compliant. Despite changing requirements Digital UK continued to use the same digital tick logo.